Ji Wallace

{{short description|Australian trampoline gymnast}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox gymnast

| name = Ji Wallace

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| country = {{AUS}}

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|06|23}}

| birth_place = Logan, Victoria, Australia

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| height = {{convert|179|cm|ftin}}

| discipline = TRA

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{{MedalSport | Men's trampoline gymnastics }}

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalSilver| 2000 Sydney | Individual}}

{{MedalCompetition | World Championships}}

{{MedalGold | 1996 Vancouver | Double mini }}

{{MedalSilver | 1996 Vancouver | Double mini team}}

{{MedalBronze | 1994 Portugal | Double mini team}}

{{MedalBronze | 1998 Sydney | Double mini team}}

{{MedalCompetition| World Games}}

{{MedalBronze| 1997 Lahti | Synchro}}

}}

Ji Wallace (born 23 June 1977 in Lismore, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian trampoline gymnast and Olympic silver medalist.

Earlier in his career, Wallace won several Australian national titles and made an international breakthrough in 1996 by winning gold in the double mini trampoline (DMT) discipline at the 19th Trampoline World Championships in Vancouver.{{cite web|url=http://www.trampoline.co.uk/worlds/Historic/worlds%201996.pdf|title=1996 World Championships Results|accessdate=2008-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217015931/http://www.trampoline.co.uk/worlds/Historic/worlds%201996.pdf|archive-date=17 February 2012|url-status=dead}}

In the world championships held in Sydney, he set a world record for completing a jump with the highest degree of difficulty in the DMT, a triple-triple.{{Cite web |url=https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/3149001 |title=Australian Olympian is New Gay Games Ambassador |date=July 3, 2005 |website=gopride.com |access-date=February 21, 2025}}

He competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he received a silver medal in trampoline.[http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=25&sp=GYM "2000 Summer Olympics – Sydney, Australia – Gymnastics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080823081053/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=25&sp=GYM |date=2008-08-23 }} databaseOlympics.com (Retrieved on 15 August 2008)[https://archive.today/20120719123458/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2000/gymnastics/news/2000/09/23/mens_tramopline_ap CNN/SI report on the trampolin final]

In 2005, he came out publicly as gay,[http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/ji-talking-on-highs-lows-and-a-super-new-move/2007/06/09/1181089387102.html Interview with "Sydney Morning Herald"]{{cite web|url=http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/2489/Out-And-Proud-Diver-Makes-A-Splash.htm |title=Out And Proud Diver Makes A Splash on |publisher=Samesame.com.au |date=27 May 2008 |accessdate=12 December 2014 |first=Travis |last=de Jonk |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230453/http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/2489/Out-And-Proud-Diver-Makes-A-Splash.htm |archivedate= 3 March 2016 }} and was the first Australian to be named a Gay Games Ambassador.[http://www.gaygames.com/en/participants/ambassadors/wallace.htm Federation of Gay Games player profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924071115/http://www.gaygames.com/en/participants/ambassadors/wallace.htm |date=2008-09-24 }} In an August 2012 letter to the Sydney Star Observer, a gay-oriented weekly tabloid newspaper, he revealed he is HIV-positive.{{cite web|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/australia-news/new-south-wales-news/2012/08/08/aussie-olympian-reveals-hiv-status/82378 |title=Aussie Olympian reveals HIV status | Star Online |publisher=Starobserver.com.au |date=2012-08-08 |accessdate=2012-10-27}}{{cite web|last=Garcia |first=Michelle |url=http://hivplusmag.com/NewsStory.asp?id=22223&sd=08%2F08%2F2012 |title=Gay Olympian Comes Out as HIV-Positive |publisher=HIVPlusMag.com |date=2012-08-08 |accessdate=2012-10-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809053205/http://hivplusmag.com/NewsStory.asp?id=22223&sd=08%2F08%2F2012 |archivedate=2012-08-09 }}

Wallace returned to his trampoline roots to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, but missed Olympic selection at the 2007 World Championships in Quebec, Canada.

Wallace was a cast member with the Cirque du Soleil in their show ZAIA in Macau, China. In October 2008 while performing an acrobatic move, Ji fell badly causing significant injuries;{{cite web |last1=Zeigler |first1=Cyd |title=Ji Wallace became an Olympic hero 20 years ago then came out as gay |url=https://www.outsports.com/2020/12/4/22152764/ji-wallace-gay-olympic-trampoline-athlete-hiv |website=Outsports |access-date=9 January 2022 |language=en |date=4 December 2020}} he spent 21 months rehabilitating his right ankle, learning to walk again. In August 2010, he took a coaching job in Montreal at the Cirque du Soleil headquarters but, in 2012, returned to his native Australia, where he is now head coach of Sky School, a trampoline program run by trampoline park chain Sky Zone.{{cite web |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Molly |title=Sky School Reaches New Heights |url=https://hercanberra.com.au/city/sky-school-reaches-new-heights/ |access-date=9 January 2022 |date=19 January 2016}}